Key cutting machine for pin tumbler cylinder locks



C. SAUCEDO Aug. 1956 KEY CUTTING MACHINE FOR PIN TUMBLER CYLINDER LOCKS Filed June 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTR. /f Carlos aucedo,

ATTORNEYS ug- 7 1956 c. sAUcl-:Do 2,7515@ KEY CUTTING MACHINE FOR PIN TUMBLER CYLINDER LOCKS Filed June 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet Carlos aucedo,

ATTG RN EY United States Patent O KEY CUTTING MACHINE FOR PIN TUMBLER CYLNDER LOCKS Carlos Saucedo, El Paso, Tex.

Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,444

1 tClaim. (Cl. 9th-13.65)

This invention relates to a key cutting machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a key cutting machine which will cut keys for pin tumbler cylinder locks when there is no sample key available, and wherein only the cylinder or plug is available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key cutting machine which will permit a person to cut keys quickly and easily, and wherein cylinders of different sizes having diierent sizes of tumbler holes can be accommodated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key cutting machine which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the key cutting machine, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the key cutting machine.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the key cutting machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevational view of the key cutting machine, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a horizontally disposed base which includes an upper portion 11 and a lower portion 12. The base 10 may be provided with feet 14, Figures l and 3. Extending upwardly from the base lil and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed ears i5 and 16 which support a main shaft 17. A bearing i8 is rotatably supported on the shaft 17, and connected to the bearing 18 is a collar 19. The collar 19 is clamped in place by a suitable bolt and nut assembly, and the collar i9 is an integral part or is secured to a swinging arm 21. A handle 22 is mounted on an end of the arm 2li for manually swinging or pivoting the arm about an axis extending through the shaft 17.

The arm 2l is provided with a flat end portion 23 and supported on the Hat portion 23 is an electric motor 24, the motor 24 being secured in place by suitable securing elements such as screws or bolts 12S. The motor 24 may be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy by means of an electric line 26 leading to a switch 27 that is rice belt 30 is also trained over the pulley 34. Thus, as the motor 24 is actuated the puiley 34 will be rotated to there by rotate the shaft 33, and rotation of the shaft 33 causes rotation of a cutter or file 35 which is connected to the shaft 33. A suitable bolt and nut assembly 36 is provided for maintaining the bearing 32 and other associated parts secured within the clamp 31.

Slidably and rotatably mounted on the main shaft 17 is a bearing 37, and a sleeve 33 is secured to the sliding and rotating bearing 37. Formed integral with the sleeve Sil or secured thereto is a bracket 39 which has a set screw 40 arranged in threaded engagement therewith. T he set screw 4th has its lower end adapted to abut the upper surface of the base l0 so as to limit downward swinging or pivotal movement of the bracket 39. The set screw 4l) can be adjusted in order to vary the amount of swinging movement of the bracket 39.

Secured to the free end of the bracket 39 is a key vise 41 and the key vise 41 includes a body portion 42 and a clamping plate 43. The key stock which is being cut to the proper size and shape is indicated by the numeral 44, and a thumb screw 45 is provided for maintaining the pressure plate 43 in locking engagement with the key stock 44. The key stock 44 is adapted to be engaged by the rotating cutter 35 as the handle 22 is used to swing the parts from the position shown in solid lines in Figure l to the position shown in dotted lines. A key blank shoulder gauge 46 is secured to the vise 41 by a suitable pin 47', and the gauge 46 helps to anchor or steady the key blank 44 while it is being cut.

There is further provided a plug vise 47 which includes a body portion 4d and a pressure plate 49, the plate 49 and body portion 48 coacting to clamp therein the plug or cylinder 51 which may be of conventional construction. The vise 47 is secured to the base 1t). A thumb screw 5t) is provided for maintaining the pressure plate 47 in locking engagement with the plug or tumbler 5l. The tumbler 51 is provided with the usual set of holes or openings 52, and a gauge pin 53 is adapted to project selectively into one of the holes :'52, the gauge pin 53 being carried by the free end of the swinging bracket 39. A plug gauge S4 is arranged contiguous to the plug 51 for helping to aline and center the plug.

Extending upwardly from the base lill and secured thereto is a vertically disposed bar S5 which carries a stub shaft 56. A depth gauge 57 is rotatably supported on the shaft 56, and the depth gauge S7 may be.` graduated for different makes of locks. The gauge 57 is provided with a plurality of notches S3 in its periphery, Figure 5, and spring pressed `balls 59 are provided in the shaft 56 for preventing accidental disengagement of the gauge 57 from the shaft. A gauge iinger Gil :is clamped on the bearing 32 by a suitable screw or bolt 61, Figure 5, and the gauge finger 6u is adapted to selectively engage one of the notches 53. A brake 62 may be arranged in engagement with the gauge disc 57 for maintaining the gauge disc 57 immobile in its various adjusted positions.

The gauge disc 57 may be provided with indicia on its inner surface as shown in Figure l and this indicia may be lined up with the pointer 62. From the foregoing it is apparent that a key cutting machine has been provided wherein keys can be cut for pin tumbler cylinder locks when there is no sample key and only the cylinder or plug such as the plug Si is available. The machine `can be used easily and eiciently and the cost of cutting keys will be at a minimum.

In use the thumb screw 50 is loosened so that the cylinder or plug 51 can be placed in the vise 47. Then the thumb screw 50 is tightened. The gauge disc 57 is rotated on the shaft 56 until the proper notch 58 is in the desired position. The key stock 44 is then clamped in the vise 41 by means of the thumb screw 45 and the motor 24 can be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy by means of the line 28. Then the handle 22 is gripped and the handle 22 moved from the solid line po sition shown in Figure l to the dotted line position whereby the gauge nger 6i) will move into engagement with one of the notches S in the gauge disc 57. This notch will serve to limit downward or clockwise swinging movement of the handle 21. initially the bracket 39 is shifted laterally on the shaft 17 so that the gauge pin 53 is seated in the proper hole 52 in the plug 51. Then, when the handle 22 is swung downwardly the rotating cutter 35 will engage the key stock 44 to cut the key stock at the proper depth and angle. The cutter 35 is rotated by the belt 30 which is connected to the shaft of the motor 24. After the notch has been cut in the key stock 44, the bracket 39 can be pivoted about the shaft 17 so that .the gauge pin 53 can be seated in another one of the openings 52 whereby when the cutter 35 is brought down into engagement with the key stock 44 a second notch or cutout can be made in the key stock. By repeating this oper ation the key stock 44 can be shaped to conform to the cylinder plug 51.

The cutter 35 may be of the same construction as a tile so that as it quickly rotates it will grind away the key stock 44 to the proper configuration.

The base 10 may have the ears 15 and 16 and the bar 55 formed integral therewith. The motor 24 and cutter unit are pivoted or moved by means of the handle 22, and a stop ring 63 serves to prevent shifting of the arm -21 and its associated parts laterally on the shaft 17. The

downward movement of this unit is controlled by the notches which are on the depth gauge 57. Different depths are necessary because different manufacturers drill the pinholes 52 in the plugs 51 to different depths. The plug vise 47 is secured to the base lt), and the cylinder plug 51 is held in the vise with its face against the plug gauge 54. The key vise 41 moves vertically and horizontally along the main shaft 17 since it is secured to the bracket 39. The key blank 44 is held in the vise 41 and engaged by shoulder gauge 46.

In pin tumbler locks, the smaller the pins, the smaller the cut on the key, the conventional pins being indicated by the numeral 64 in Figure 4. Therefore, as the key vise 41 is moved horizontally and dropped vertically, and as the gauge pin 53 drops into each pinhole 52, the key stock 44 is raised or lowered in proportion to the size of the pins 64 in the plug 51 so that the cutter 35 will be limited in its downward travel by the depth gauge 57. Thus, the key blank 44 will be cut with great accuracy and the key can be cut in a very short period of time. The various bearings on the machine may be made of a suitable material such as bronze, and these bearings can be readily replaced without requiring the use of any special tools.

The machine of the present invention does not have to be adjusted and locked in position each time a new notch i is to be cut and the guide linger 53 by entering the holes 52 automatically insures that each cut will be at the right place. The disc 57 with the graduated notches 58 enables the machine to be used for different sized cylinders, and also for different depths to which different manufacturers drill the tumbler holes 52. The disc 57 may be interchangeable and the numbers on the inside of the disc 57, as shown in Figure 1, permit keys to be cut by code nurnbers since the disc may have proper depths by number.

The machine of the present invention makes keys to lit the barrel of a plug of the lock.. The rotating file cuts the notches in the key and this machine does not duplicate keys, but makes a new key without having the old key to be used as the model.

I claim:

A key cutting machine comprising a horizontally disposed base, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed ears extending upwardly from said base and secured thereto, a horizontally disposed main shaft supported by said pair of ears, a bearing rotatably supported on said shaft, an arm having a collar pivotally mounted on said bearing, a handle connected t0 an end of said arm, a flat portion extending from the outer end of said arm, a motor secured to said flat portion and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, a clamp extending from said movable arm, a driven shaft rotatably supported by said clamp, belt and pulley means connecting said motor t0 an end of said driven shaft, a circular cutter mounted on the other end of said driven shaft, a bracket having a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on said main shaft, a vise secured to the free end of said bracket for supporting a key blank, said vise including a body portion and a clamping plate, a gauge pin carried by said bracket, a vertically disposed bar extending upwardly from said base, a stub shaft carried by said bar, a depth gauge rotatably supported on said stub shaft, said depth gauge having a plurality of notches in its periphery, spring pressed balls in said stub shaft for preventing accidental disengagement of the depth gauge from said stub shaft, a brake arranged in engagement with said depth gauge for maintaining said depth gauge immobile in its various adjusted positions, the inner surface of said depth gauge having indicia thereon, a vise secured to said base for supporting a lock cylinder plug, a gauge pin carried by said bracket for engagement with lsaid plug, a gauge finger carried -by `said arm for engagement with the notches of said depth gauge, a manually operable switch mounted on said base for controlling said motor, and a set screw carried by said bracket and defining a stop for engagement with said base.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,254,442 Smith Jan. 22, 1918 1,895,849 Haubroe Jan. 31, 1933 1,923,164 Roos Aug. 22, 1933 

